Daily Archives: July 13, 2011

Tor, publisher of many a fine sci-fi titles and game novelizations, is ramping up for a double whammy: Comic-Con and their monthly #Torchat. The company’s booth, #2707, will host signings, giveaways, and a live #Torchat on Thursday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thirteen authors will be on hand for signings, including Vernor Vinge, Brandon Sanderson, George R.R. Martin, and Bill Willingham. Four members of the Tor Brigade will also be around for the chat and festivities: Theresa DeLucci, Laura Fitzgerald, Patty Garcia, and Justin Golenbock.

The PlayStation Network is set to receive a piece of the Sony pie, in the form of $20 million. The company has announced a three-year plan to support the development of PSN exclusives from first-party studios as well as from smaller studios via the Pub Fund program. Through Pub Fund, SCEA will help indies “with game design and marketing plans” while allowing the developers “to own the game’s intellectual property, publish the title and set the price.”

The Comic-Con train roars along today with Ubisoft’s announced plans to regale attendees with their wares. Gamers will be able to check out the first public demos of Just Dance 3, Rabbids: Alive & Kicking, and Rayman Origins. The company will also be holding a panel discussion based around the Assassin’s Creed franchise, which will include writers from the upcoming game Revelations and animated film Embers.

Boulder Dash-XL has launched for the 360 on Live Arcade. For 800 MS Points, gamers get a revamped Boulder Dash sporting HD visuals, five modes, and 25 caves. A Retro Mode is also included that updates the 1984 original with real-time 3D graphics while keeping the cave and level design, rules, and enemy behavior the same as it was.